Chapter 4

The next few weeks I built a rapport. I maintained a routine of getting up at dawn and returning at dusk with goods I had already acquired from the Sacred Realm. As promised I taught Sar how to play the ocarina; I hadn't taught him my song yet, I was waiting for the perfect opportunity to do so.

Today I decided to stay behind at the ranch, and Sar couldn't have been happier. However, I had no idea that my presence would eventually put everyone in danger.

I helped Malon with her duties which she insisted I didn't, but there was no stopping my made up mind. Sar finished his chores early and gave me a piece of firefly candy he received from his father while they were in Castle Town earlier that morning. And Link was working on a broken stable that had been giving them trouble for quite some time.

Sar plopped his handsome self down at my feet as I was sitting down trying to rest.

I raise my eyebrows thoughtfully when I saw he wanted my attention. "What's up Sar?"

"Tell me about your home." Sar says stretching himself out and resting his weight on his elbows.

I look over at him fondly. "Why do you want to know?"

"Because I don't want to be surprised when I come to visit you," he says.

I heard his mother sigh in the kitchen. "Ignore him Miss Aria," Malon says.

I chuckle. "It seems you're an adventurer," I say to him.

"More like a dreamer," Malon segues for Sar.

"That's only because that's all you and dad allow me to do," I hear Sar mutter underneath his breath.

I look at him with sympathy, completely understanding his frustration.

"What do you want be when you grow up?" I ask.

Sar's face brightened. "I want to be a hero like my father," he says.

Malon stops washing dishes for a moment and took in a deep breath, "Sar…"

"What's wrong with that mom?" Sar asks.

Malon sighs again. "Oh to be a child again," she says, "so young, so naïve."

Sar rolls his eyes at his mother's comment. I merely smile.

"You know what?" I say to him in a low voice.

"What?" He asks.

"I think you would make a wonderful hero," I whisper to him.

Sar smiles up at me affectionately. "Really?"

"Really," I reply.

"What do you think I need to do to be a good hero?" Sar asks me.

"Well…" I say thoughtfully, "you need to have a sword."

Sar scoffs. "That will never happen."

"You'll need a shield," I went on.

"Dad thinks I'll break my hand," he replies shaking his head.

"…and you need to know how to ride a horse," I say with a mischievous look in my eye.

Sar's ears perked when I say that, "I can ride a horse."

I smirk. "I mean really ride a horse."

Sar looked in my eyes and smiles a huge smile.

"Come on!" He says excitedly and grabbed me by the hand. I hoisted myself up and followed him in the direction of the front door.

"Gentle Sar," Malon says, turning around to see if her son was behaving, "Miss Aria is a lady."

You wouldn't think so highly of me if you knew the real reason why I was here. I thought with a measure of guilt.

"It's okay," I reply.

"I want to have that race now Miss Aria," Sar says excitedly. "It's been weeks since you promised and we still have yet to do it."

"Why do you want to race today?" I ask already knowing the answer.

"To prove I'm a true hero." Sar replies.

"A what?" Malon demands overhearing the conversation.

"That's a noble cause," I agree with Sar, "alright, today is the day then."

Sar looks at me happily. "Really?"

"Yes," I say not being able to help but smile, "really."

"This is awesome!" He exclaims. "I'm going to ask father to prep Epona!"

Before Malon could object Sar was out the door. I chuckle softly at Sar's enthusiasm and turn to his mother. Malon was shaking her head concerned.

"He's so small on that great big horse," I hear her say with worry. "If he loses it will crush him."

I understood the under lining message loud and clear. "Don't worry he'll win," I say trying to reassure her.

Malon sighs in relief when I say that, "Thank you."

Sar tore open the door to the barn and alerted his occupied father.

"What's wrong Sar?" Link asks of his son's antics.

"Aria's going to race me!" He says, his excitement was building.

"What?" Link replies surprised.

I then entered the room, I noticed the troubled expression on Link's face. He turns from looking at me.

"Is there anything I can help you with Mr. Link?" I ask him.

Link stood up looking a little annoyed with the situation at play.

"You want to tell me why Sar is having these crazy notions about a race?" He demands.

His tone took me by surprise.

"Sar's been wanting to race me since I got here." I say. "It's only fitting that I grant him his request."

Link narrowed his eyes at me; I smile back.

"He's only ten," Link says.

So were you. I thought. So were you.

"Oh come on dad!" Sar says upsettingly. "You never let me do anything!"

"Sar..." Link warns.

I was surprised the situation had turned so sour so quickly. "If...it's a problem then we don't have too Mr. Link."

"Dad come on don't be a killjoy!" Sar exclaims. "You and Mom will be right here."

Link realized he was caught in conflict, he looked to me and then to Sar. I could see the frustration in his eyes.

Why is he so... angry? I wonder.

I stroked Sar's red hair with my fingertips receding to the fact that his father was clearly upset.

"Perhaps another time dear," I say.

Sar pulled from my touch. "There won't be another time!" Sar exclaims angrily, he then turned to his father. "Why are you always trying to cage me dad? Why can't you let me live a little?"

I saw the look on Link's face, it looked like guilt mixed with anger. It was clear it was a conversation that should not have happened in front of a guest.

"I'm not caging you Sar," he says carefully, "I'm protecting you."

Sar rolls his eyes and then ran out of the barn, he slammed the door behind him. I turned back to Link and swallow hard.

"Are you happy now?" Link demands of me.

I rubbed my shoulder uncomfortably unsure of what I did. "Mr. Link I'm sorr-"

"Stop calling me that!" He snaps.

I froze at his tone. "I..." I trail. "What do you want me to call you?"

Link didn't answer for a moment.

"Why are you here?" He asks me abruptly.

"What?" I ask feeling my heart accelerate.

"Why are you here?" He asks again. "Who sent you?"

I swallow hard and took a step back. "No one," I reply, "I told you I'm here on business."

There was a tense silence between us.

"Ever since you came here my son has been getting silly ideas," Link divulges suddenly, "he wants to adventure all of a sudden; he's unsettled; discontent. He wasn't like this until you came here."

I ran my hand through my long green hair wishing I had an answer for him.

"Maybe he just gets that adventurous side from you," I say.

Link looks at me with a steely blue gaze, and then turns his attention to my hair.

"I don't know how you did it but you look like her," he says abruptly.

I swallow hard. "Who?" I ask.

Link was silent for a moment.

"A girl from my memories," he replies. "I haven't seen her in years, but you interact with my son the same way she used to interact with me."

I bite my lower lip. "Everyone has a twin," I say not looking into his eyes.

"Stop influencing mine," he says to me regarding his son.

I look up at him. "Alright...Link."

Before he could reply there was a loud whiny sound coming from the fencing yard outside. Link and I hurried through the barn door. Malon had stumbled from the house, her eyes were wide in horror as she saw her son trying to mount Epona bareback.

"Sar!" Link quickly exclaims running towards the fencing yard.

Wanting to help, I run back to the barn and unhitch Maxere. I trot frenziedly to the fencing yard to see Link already jumping on Epona and wrapping his arms around her neck.

"Aria grab him!" Link exclaims holding on tightly to Epona.

I come along the side of the tempered horse and try to grab Sar's trousers, his feet were dangling, he was holding onto Epona for dear life.

"Aria!" Sar screams looking at me with frightened blue eyes. "Help me!"

I reach in closer and wrap my arm around his waist. "Grab onto my saddle!" I order trying to maintain my balance.

Sar grabs the holster and I hoist his little body onto my steed. I then turn to Link, "I got him!" I say loudly over the trampling hooves.

Link then focused his attention to getting control over Epona. He reached in his pocket and pulled out a little brown ocarina. He then began playing a beautiful melody; Epona's song. Soon Epona settled down, and the rambunctious ride was over.

Link dismounted and took in a deep breath. Malon ran up to Maxere and I, and pulled her young son into her arms. She was crying as she caressed his coppery locks.

"I told you you were too small for that horse!" Malon sobs into Sar's hair.

Link shot me a venomous glance. I swallow hard a little afraid of the soon to be consequences.

How could he possibly blame me for this? I wonder. Well... I guess it is my fault.

My worry was short lived along with the relief all together. In the distance a large demonic looking bird was hanging low and heading straight for Malon.

"Watch out!" I cry jumping from my horse and pushing both Malon and Sar out of harms way.

"Go back into the house!" Link orders, and then heads in the opposite direction.

Where is he going? I thought when my heart raced.

Malon scooped her son in her arms and stumbled to her feet. The bird glided back around and made another dive at her.

I act quickly by summoning a barrier with my sage powers. I had no choice, it was a sage's duty to protect the innocent.

"Spirits of the forest lend me thy strength!" I say loudly, and then abruptly an aura green barrier surrounded Malon, Sar, and myself.

The bird's talons clanged on the surface of the barrier but did not break through. Malon looked at me in complete and utter shock. Sar's mouth was wide open in an 'O' of wonder.

"Who are you?" Malon whispers to me with a little bit of fear.

I look down at her with a bit of an understanding of her dismay. I close my eyes wishing I didn't have to do this.

How will I explain this to them later? I wonder.

Meanwhile Link ran to the windmill in the northwest corner of the fencing yard. He hurriedly threw boxes out of the way until a stone aperture recessed in the floor. He heaved up the heavy large stone, and pulled up and long satin covered sword. Link removed the satin and hurried out the windmill with his blade.

Link stops cold for a moment when he sees the green energy dome surrounding his family and me.

"Saria?" He whispers to himself, not wanting to believe it, but then quickly snaps back to reality when the bird flew low again and tried to take his head off.

Link quickly jumps and rolls away. The bird came low again and this time he jumps and strikes the obscene vestige in mid flight. Blood gushed from one of the wings, inadvertently one of the bird's talons rips into Link's shoulder.

"Ah!" Link cries out in pain.

"Link!" Malon cries out in panic.

I almost cry out myself, but had to remember where I was and what I was doing.

He's going to be okay. I tell myself. He's going to be okay.

Link ignores the pain in his arm and readies his blade as the bird flew down again. This time Link waits for the bird to be right within his reach before he drew his blade and provides the ending blow. Blood rained through the sky as the cursed animal fell to its death.

Link drops his sword and took in a deep breath, but then realized the pain that shot through his shoulder.

"Damn it!" He cries falling to his knees and gripping his shoulder.

I abate the barrier and Malon and Sar immediately run after Link. Malon gets to him first and looks at his wound.

"I don't think it got to the bone," she says in relief stroking her hand through Link's hair, "but I think it hit an artery."

At hearing that I immediately step in. "Please let me..." I say to Malon touching her shoulder.

Malon moves momentarily as I sit down next to Link. He looks into my eyes and sighs as sweat seeds his brow.

"I'm going to heal you," I say to him softly.

I hear Malon let out a shocked breath. "You...you can do that?"

I nod and then closed my eyes and began my séance. "Power within guide me to your shining and true purpose." I chant softly. "Power within guide me to your shining and true purpose."

My whole body emits a green iridescence of energy as quanta flows from my hand onto Link's wound. Link winces when the sinewy and fleshy bits strap and lock back together. I continue until the wound is completely healed and no remnants of the injury remain. I then open my eyes and take in a deep breath, surprisingly Link is looking at me warmly.

"Thank you," he says quietly, "for saving my family."

I swallow hard and merely stand up. Malon then comes in and wraps her arms around Link's neck; she sobs into his bloody shirt.

"Oh goddesses Link!" Malon cries. "I thought I'd lost you."

Sar stood back and held his breath at the sight of his father's recovery. His big blue eyes immediately filled with tears.

"I'm sorry dad!" Sar sobs not able to catch his breath. "I thought that if I showed you I could ride Epona you would see I was a hero like you."

Link looks at his son and sighs, but then gestures for him to come to him. Sar ran into his father's arms and sobs into Link's broad chest along with his mother.

Meanwhile I stood back taking it all in. I cast my eyes down, but when I look up again Link's eyes were locked on mine. He mouths to me without saying out loud: 'Saria?'

My eyes get wide and I quickly shake my head no. Link nods slowly in his disagreement, and understands everything in that moment. He knew who I really was.

Not like this. I thought guiltily. He wasn't supposed to find out like this. Why is this happening? Am I causing this?

Malon pulls back from her husband and turns to look at me. "Thank you," she says, "you saved Sar's life."

I shake my head of my thoughts. "You don't need to thank me," I reply.

"Yes I do," Malon says barely able to speak, "if you hadn't been here..."

None of this would have happened. I thought.

Sar manages to get a hold of himself enough to turn and look at me.

"I knew you were amazing!" He says returning some of the excitement to his normally energetic voice. "I can't believe you created an energy barrier!"

I smile uncomfortably. Malon then stands up; her eyes are grateful, but she couldn't help but feel a little suspicious towards me. It was clear that my story of being a merchant selling goods was not going to hold any longer.

"Aria," she says, "I think you owe us an explanation."

I look into each of their faces, but before I utter a word the sound of horses hooves trampling wildly precludes the air. I turn to look and see a stampede of royal guards flood through the Lon Lon entrance. Link, Malon, and Sar all look shocked and surprised, but not nearly as surprised as I when the head of the guard jumps down from his horse and stands in front of me.

"Her royal highness queen Zelda requests an audience with you Aria of Dragon Roost." The guard says to me.

"What?" I ask flabbergasted. "Queen Zelda?"

"Come with us," the guard said.

I turn and look at Link, Malon, and Sar, they are all clearly concerned.

"Don't worry I'll be back," I say not really knowing one way or the other.

Why does the queen want to see me? I wonder.

I get on the horse of the guard, but Sar immediately runs in front of the steed.

"No!" Sar cries out. "You can't take her away! She just saved us!"

"It's alright," I reassure him, "I'll be back. I promise."

Sar looks up at me with doubtful blue eyes. "You promise?"

"I promise," I say.

Slowly Sar moves out of the way, but is helped along by his mother. They all look at me concerned wondering what is going to happen, and for the moment I wonder that myself.

What's going to happen? I wonder. Why does Zelda want to see me?

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